Cannons Select Three from Tryout

BOSTON, Mass. (March 13, 2012) –Following an open tryout last Sunday, the Boston Cannons have invited three players from New England to training camp: Owen Smith (Brunswick, ME), Kevin DeBenedetto (Reading, MA) and Ryan Danehy (Hanover, NH) will be given the chance to earn a Major League Lacrosse (MLL) roster spot for the 2012 season. The first-ever Cannons Open Tryout was presented by CroART Lacrosse and CATZ Training, giving undrafted players the chance to showcase their abilities to the Cannons coaching staff.

“Our first ever open try out was a great success,” said Cannons General Manager Kevin Barney. “CATZ Training put the guys through a vigorous conditioning testing and then our coaching staff evaluated skills, small sided games and ended with a full field scrimmage. The talent level was extremely high and everyone who attended gave it their all throughout the day. We are excited about adding Ryan, Kevin and Owen to our team and bringing them into training camp to turn up the battle for roster spots.”

The three selected players will be among 40 on the roster for training camp, which takes place March 31, April 14, 15, 21 and 22. Following the last weekend of camp, the roster will be culled to 25 active and six practice squad players.

"We were impressed at the level of seriousness displayed by all players during the tryouts, said head coach Steve Duffy. "The three players selected demonstrated some of the intangibles we are looking for as Boston Cannons."

Owen Smith Jr.played both lacrosse and hockey at Bowdoin College. He earned First Team All-NESCAC honors three times, becoming the first Polar Bear to do so. In 2011, Smith recorded 20 goals and 10 assists as a senior. Smith was an All-American at Brunswick High School.

Kevin DeBenedettois currently a volunteer assistant coach at Merrimack College. DeBenedetto played for Saint Anselm College, where he earned a number of honors, including Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year, ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, NEILA Division II Player of the Year. In 2010, DeBenedetto was an Academic All-American and an All-American. As a senior, DeBenedetto led the team with 72 ground balls and 54 caused turnovers.

Ryan Danehy, a Dartmouth College graduate, has been an assistant coach at his alma mater since 2008. At Dartmouth, Danehy lettered four times in lacrosse and three times in football. In his collegiate career Danehy posted 73 goals and 11 assists in 39 games. After graduating in 2006, he was selected in the fifth round of the MLL Collegiate Draft by the Boston Cannons and went on to play two games for the Chicago Machine. Danehy was a four-year starter in lacrosse at Billerica High School winning the 2001 Massachusetts State Championship.

“Congratulations to all the players who had the courage to try and achieve the dream of playing professional lacrosse,” said Tyrone Croom, Founder of CroART Lacrosse. “Thanks to the Boston Cannons and the MLL for allowing players this unique chance to play at the next level. I’m very excited for the players who get to move on to training camp and we look forward to following their quest to make the team.”

2012 Cannons season tickets are on sale now with packages starting at $108 including all seven Cannons home games plus Championship Weekend. Individual tickets start at only $15 and group discounts are also available. For more information, please contact the Boston Cannons at 617-746-9933, tickets@bostoncannons.com or by visiting BostonCannons.com.